You are here

Graduation

University of Oxford degrees are not automatically conferred on the successful completion of a course and degree certificates are not issued by the University until after the formal conferment at a degree ceremony. Degrees are conferred at degree ceremonies, held in the Sheldonian Theatre. You may graduate in person or in absentia, either straight after you have finished your degree or many years later. St Hilda's College has an attendance quota at certain degree ceremonies during the year. There is no limit on the number of ceremony places for conferment in absentia. Current students have priority booking of the degree ceremonies in the year they take their final examinations. Former students (also known as historic graduands) join a waiting list to graduate on an available date. Full information about graduation and degree certificates can be found on the Degree Conferrals website.

Most ceremonies begin with a registration in College (during which graduands will be able to collect their guest tickets), followed by a briefing from the Dean of Degrees. The ceremony takes place at 11.00am and usually lasts for approximately an hour and a half. After the ceremony, graduands collect their degree certificates from the College and there is a garden party or lunch held in College to complete the celebrations.

How to book your degree ceremony

The University Degree Conferrals Office administers the degree ceremony booking process. Students are invited to book a ceremony online using eVision, as described below:

Current students

Current Undergraduate and Postgraduate Taught Masters students: you will automatically receive an email in late November in your final year of study, with instructions regarding how to book your degree ceremony. If you have not received an email at this time, please contact the Degree Ceremonies Team. The degree ceremony booking task on eVision will open on Tuesday 27 November 2018 (Tuesday of 8th week) and the booking window will close at midnight on Thursday 31 January 2019. From Tuesday 27 November degree ceremony bookings can be made via the 'Degree Ceremonies' tab in Student Self-Service.

Postgraduate Research students: you will automatically receive an email with instructions on how to book your degree ceremony once you have been granted leave to supplicate. If you do not receive an email invitation at this time contact the Degree Ceremonies Team.

About two months before the date of the Degree Ceremony, the Academic Office of St Hilda's College will communicate with you regarding arrival, gowning, catering arrangements and any charges you may be required to pay for the Degree Day. Degree ceremony bookings close 30 days prior to the ceremony date but cancellation - or changing to another ceremony - is not permitted within 60 days of a booked ceremony. If you decide to withdraw from the ceremony during this time, your degree will be conferred at the ceremony in absentia and you will not be able to attend a future date. Your place will be offered to graduands on the waiting list for that ceremony. If you are, due to exceptional circumstances, required to withdraw from the ceremony within the 60 day period, St Hilda's College may seek permission on your behalf from the Vice-Chancellor and Proctors to be allowed exceptionally to apply for a place at another ceremony. Exceptional circumstances might include, but are not limited to: students or their guests with serious illness, or other comparable serious and unavoidable difficulties. Exceptional circumstances do not include work commitments, volunteering commitments, holidays, visa issues (where visa applications have been left too late to be processed in time for the ceremony), the unavailability of guests or similar. You will be asked to provide evidence of these circumstances.

Alumnae/Senior Members

Historic Graduands (alumnae/senior members who have not yet graduated) and who wish to graduate in person should complete the Historic Graduand - Waiting List application form and return it to the College Office. Current students have priority booking of degree ceremony places, and any remaining places are then offered to the waiting list. The Degree Conferrals Office will take into consideration preferred dates when allocating a degree ceremony place. However, please note that there is no guarantee places will be available on the preferred date.

Historic Graduands wishing to graduate in absence should complete the Historic Graduand - In Absentia application Form and return to the College Office. Degrees will be conferred in absence at the first available degree ceremony and degree certificates mailed shortly after the ceremony.

The Oxford Master of Arts

Alumnae who have already graduated with a BA or BFA degree are eligible to receive the Oxford Master of Arts 21 terms after their matriculation date. Alumnae who have graduated with a four-year Undergraduate Masters degree (MEng, MChem, MPhys, MMath, MBiochem) are not eligible to receive the MA. Following longstanding tradition, the status of Master of Arts is awarded as a mark of seniority within the University, the Master of Arts has no subject or class and is not an upgrade of the BA or an additional qualification. The nominals 'MA' should be represented in place of, not in addition to, the 'BA' in the holder's signature and on documents such as CVs. The University charges an administrative fee of £40 (£10.00 admin fee plus £30.00 for the certificate). It is a policy of St Hilda's College that the MA is awarded only in absence at a degree ceremony. If you are eligible and would like to apply for your MA, please fill in the MA Degree Booking Form and return it to the St Hilda's College Academic Office. You will receive an email confirming the date of the ceremony when your MA will be granted in absence and instructions on how to make the online payment of the University MA fee. The MA degree certificate will be mailed to you once payment has been received.